Mapping Your Way Through College Football Scandal Since 2000

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College football has been full of scandal over the years, and it is almost becoming a daunting task to remember all the programs that have violated NCAA rules.

In 2011, Penn State became the most recent football program to be added to the list of schools that have been rocked by scandal.  Not all the scandals that have taken place over the years have been as serious as what went on at Penn State, but it is still an alarming trend that only seems to be going up.

Since 2000, there have been a number of football programs that have violated NCAA rules in a wide variety of ways. MTV’s Clutch Blog has created this outstanding map that breaks down each school’s scandal, the severity, and the penalties that they received.   A lot of prestigious college football programs are on this map and it just goes to show that if you are not cheating than you are not trying. [Read more...]

The 28 Funniest Gatorade Baths of All-Time

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Update: Thanks to Twitter, this post caught the attention of Gatorade president Sarah Robb O’Hagan (@SarahRobbOh). She enjoyed our rundown of the funniest Gatorade baths ever, and she also sent me the wall mural from Gatorade’s headquarters with some of their favorite Gatorade baths of all-time. It’s very cool. You’ll see it at the end of the post.

The Gatorade bath is a tradition like few others in sports.

After most monumental wins in football – specifically Super Bowls, national championship games, especially important and/or meaningful bowl games, or season-ending victories over hated rivals – such a celebration can be expected. The tradition began with the New York Giants in the mid-1980s and continues into today with no signs of slowing down.

While the sentimental among us enjoy the Gatorade bath because it symbolizes the triumph of a team of men on the field of athletic battle and the ultimate moment of shared jubilation and respect between coach and player, I enjoy Gatorade baths for a far different reason.

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So, why did the Houston Cougars put up a billboard featuring Case Keenum giving ‘the shocker’ hand gesture anyway?

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Well, because it’s not supposed to be “the shocker” as defined by Urban Dictionary. (Warning: link not safe for the faint of heart, parents of any age, or Rick Santorum.)

Here is the picture, and then in true Paul Harvey style…the rest of the story.

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Ohio State Receives Fair Punishment By NCAA

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On Tuesday, the NCAA rendered their decision on the Ohio State football program almost a year after their investigation began about the rule violations that had occurred under former head coach Jim Tressel.

The NCAA decided to cite Ohio State “for failure to monitor, preferential treatment and extra benefit violations,” which got them a postseason ban for one year. Not only will they not be allowed to participate in postseason play next season (including Big Ten championship game) but the NCAA also slapped them some additional penalties as well. Ohio State was placed on three years’ probation and a must give up nine scholarships in that amount of time.

People surrounding the Ohio State football program were stunned that they got such a harsh penalty, but with their history of breaking the rules they received the proper punishment. [Read more...]

Mike Leach Continues To Rip Into Craig James In Radio Interview On Scott Van Pelt Show

Mike-Leach

Mike Leach’s inner pirate came out on the Scott Van Pelt show Thursday when he continued to take shots at Craig James.

Mike Leach has held nothing back from the public since being fired at Texas Tech and continues to insist that Craig James’ smear campaign against him is what cost him his job. Leach even went as far as to write a book that gave some insight into some of the falsehoods by Craig James and his son that caused Texas Tech to fire him.

Leach has moved on since Texas Tech by becoming the head football coach at Washington State but he still has no problem taking verbal jabs at the person he perceives got him fired. [Read more...]

College Football Bowl Game TV Schedule and Point Spreads

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College football bowl games start this Saturday, and I couldn’t be more excited.

Even with all the controversy (I don’t like BCS system either) I still love the experience of hanging out with family and watching teams duke it out for bragging rights. It’s also a great look into how potential high draft picks perform in high pressure/high stakes games.

Are there bowl games that are going to be more entertaining than others? Of course, but I really recommend you to try to watch as many of them as possible.

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For NFL Teams Looking At College Coaches, It’s Buyer Beware

Nick-Saban

On Monday, the NFL firing began around the NFL as both the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins decided that they needed a change at head coach.

As the NFL season digresses, there will be more firings to come and many teams will  look to the college game for potential head coaches.  It didn’t take long for the rumors to begin about the next possible head coach of the Kansas City Chiefs being from college, as Iowa’s Kirk Ferentz was mentioned as a candidate to replace Todd Haley.  Kirk Ferentz will not be the only name tossed out there but other coaches from the college game will be floated around for NFL coaching jobs as well.

Because a coach has a lot of success in college does not always mean it will translate at the next level. More often than not former college coaches do not achieve greatness – or even just goodness – in the NFL. [Read more...]

11 Examples of Nick Saban Stepping Over Things He Shouldn’t

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Nick Saban is an amazing college football coach.

Nick Saban is not a nice person.

These two things are givens. There is no reasonable argument to make against either.

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Why Oklahoma State, not Alabama, Should Play in the BCS Title Game

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In these finals hours before all the ballots are cast for the polls that will determine which team finishes second in the final BCS standings and gets the opportunity to face LSU in January 9′s National Championship Game, I figured I’d make a last-minute case for Oklahoma State, whom I feel deserves that #2 spot.

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The Top 10 Tebowest Moments of Tim Tebow

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Perhaps no NFL player is as polarizing as Tim Tebow, and what he does between the lines of the football field isn’t the only contributing factor to the mixed feelings America possesses for the Denver Broncos’ quarterback.

Tebow causes hysteria among football traditionalists because of his unorthodox (read: bad) throwing mechanics and the Broncos’ need to create a simplified option offense for him to be successful.  Conversely, his uncanny leadership abilities and penchant for performing at his absolute best in the most important moments has convinced many that he will be a success simply through hard work, will power, and a positive attitude.

By virtue of his devout Christianity, Tebow inspires intense conversations about the role of faith in sports, and that is a dividing factor amongst many fans. Right or wrong, many people’s judgements of Tim Tebow the football player, are forged from their opinions of Tim Tebow the person.

Plus, let’s face it – there are legions of people who want to dislike Tebow simply for the success he had experienced and his seemingly perfect life.  And then there are people (me included, at times) who just like to go against the grain for the sake of staying off the bandwagons of the sports world.

Though we can argue for days about Tebow’s long-term prospects as an NFL quarterback and whether his overt displays of his faith should have a place in our sports experience, there is no doubt that Tebow is a very talented, very charismatic guy.  He seems like a truly nice person who does his best to lead the best personal life he can.  With that in mind, I decided to simultaneously poke a little fun and honor the character and football acumen of one Timothy Richard Tebow.

Here are the Top 10 Tebowest Moments of Tim Tebow:

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College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads for Week 14 – Conference Championship Game Week

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The second to last of college football is upon us. It’s a short list of games, but there are big bowl game stakes at hand. A loss this late could ruin a team’s whole season or propel it into a dream destination like the BCS.

So settle down, relax, and get ready for another great weekend of college football.

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College Football Picks and Spreads for Conference Championship Game and Bedlam Week

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This is an exciting week in college football as conference championship games are going to be played and the BCS bowl game picture will be revealed.

Things will look a little differently than in years past as the Pac 12 and the Big Ten will play their first conference championship games.  The Big 12 might not have a championship game, but they have one of the best matchups this week as Oklahoma State tries to keep their national championship dreams alive against Oklahoma.

Here are the point spreads and picks, as well as relevant information, for this weekend’s top games. [Read more...]

College Football TV Schedule and Point Spreads for Thanksgiving Weekend – Saturday, November 26th

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Week 13 of the college football season is upon us, and we’re at the home stretch. The turkey and stuffing and his been eaten, bowl games are just around the corner, and the final full week of regular season games still what should be very entertaining games for our viewing pleasure.

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Black Friday Alternative: LSU-Arkansas Preview and the Complete College Football TV Schedule for Friday, Nov 25th

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If the idea of battling throngs of coffee-fueled shoppers just to get that incredible deal on a comforter set or bargain-basement laptop makes you feel like slamming your TV-remote hand in a car door over and over, then you will find this guide to this year’s Black Friday (November 25th) college football action worthwhile.

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Thanksgiving Day Football Guide: TV Schedule and Game Previews for the NFL and Texas-Texas A&M

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It has a whirlwind few days here at MSF in terms of football content. That’s how it goes around Thanksgiving when football is trumped only by food and family, and typically enjoyed altogether all weekend long.

(And just in case you were wondering how America came to this annual tradition of football on Turkey Day, Josh Tinley breaks it all down right here.)

Use this guide as a preview for your day of football viewing and to all of our Thanksgiving Day football content here at MSF.

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